The first known professionally printed publication was in 1956 by Ludlow Music.
In 2002, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry
This Land Is Your Land
Woody Guthrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the California, to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
Saw below me the golden valley
I roamed and rambled, and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
All around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
This land is your land, and this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving, the dust clouds rolling
The voice come a-chanting and the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
Woody Guthrie's song "This Land Is Your Land" is a tribute to the beauty and vastness of the United States of America. The song describes the country, from California to the New York Island and the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters, as a land that belongs to its people. The lyrics highlight the abundance of natural resources that the country possesses, including the golden valleys, sparkling sands, wheat fields, and diamond deserts. The song's tone is patriotic while being a commentary on the inequality and struggles that many Americans faced during the time in which it was written.
Guthrie wrote the song in 1940 when he was living in New York City. He heard Kate Smith's recording of "God Bless America" on the radio, and it inspired him to write a response that reflected his politics and his experiences. Guthrie was an active participant in the labor movement and shared their socialist beliefs. He believed that the United States should belong to all its citizens, not just the wealthy and powerful.
The song's lyrics question the American Dream and the promises it makes, suggesting that the United States is far from perfect. By saying that "this land was made for you and me," Guthrie is asserting that all Americans have a right to the beauty and resources that the land provides, regardless of their circumstances. The song has become an iconic piece of Americana and has been performed by countless artists, including Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan.
Line by Line Meaning
This land is your land, and this land is my land
This land is meant for all of us to share and enjoy equally, regardless of our differences
From the California, to the New York Island
From the west coast to the east coast, this land belongs to all of us
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters
From the natural wonders of the west to the vibrant ecosystems of the south, this land was made for all of us to appreciate and protect
This land was made for you and me
This land was created for every American, and it's our responsibility to cherish and respect it
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
As I walked along the open road, I felt free and inspired by the vastness of this land
I saw above me that endless skyway
I looked up and saw the wide expanse of sky, and felt the boundless possibilities of what we can achieve together
Saw below me the golden valley
I saw the natural beauty of the land, with rolling hills and lush valleys full of life
I roamed and rambled, and I've followed my footsteps
I explored this land on my own, discovering new places and feeling connected to it on a personal level
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
I ventured to the arid regions of this land, which despite their harshness still hold natural wonders that are breathtakingly beautiful
All around me a voice was sounding
As I journeyed through this land, I heard the voices of other people who also feel a deep connection to it
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
When the sun shone bright, I felt invigorated and renewed, and continued to explore this land
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
I saw the natural cycle of life in the fields and how it is constantly renewing itself, nourishing the land and people alike
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
As I traveled, I heard the voices of people singing about this land's beauty, and saw the natural fog lifting, revealing more of its glory
The voice come a-chanting and the fog was lifting
The songs of praise for this land grew louder and more hopeful as the fog receded, revealing more and more of its natural beauty
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Woody Guthrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deepakgeorge5673
This land is your land, and this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
And I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
I roamed and rambled, and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
All around me, a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
There was a big, high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said "Private Property"
But on the backside, it didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me
When the sun come shining, then I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving, and the dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
This land is your land, and this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
@Billchuck007
"Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
In the squares of the city, In the shadow of a steeple;
By the relief office, I'd seen my people.
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?"
That verse was included on this exact video a few years back but has since been censored. It was done in such a lazy manner that there is a minute of dead air on here. So much for free speech.
@user-uw6cb5qt8p
This land is your land, this land is my land
From [the] California to the [Staten] New York Island,
From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
And saw above me that endless skyway,
And saw below me the golden valley, I said:
This land was made for you and me.
I roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts,
And all around me , a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.
Was a high wall there that tried to stop me
A sign was painted said: Private Property,
But on the back side it didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling;
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting:
This land was made for you and me.
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California to the New York Island
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me.
@anthonysisneroz2615
This land is your land, this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
I roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me , a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In the wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice was chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
This land is your land and this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
When the sun comes shining, then I was strolling
In wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling
The voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
@metallistener340
[Verse 1]
This land is your land and this land is my land
From the California to the New York island
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
[Verse 2]
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
Saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me
[Verse 3]
I roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
All around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
[Verse 4]
When the sun comes shining then I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
A voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
[Verse 1]
This land is your land and this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me
[Verse 4]
When the sun comes shining then I was strolling
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
A voice come chanting as the fog was lifting
This land was made for you and me
--------------------
The following verses are not included in this recording
[Verse 4]
As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said "No trespassin'"
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
[Verse 6]
In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me
@gswdeclan
This preceded "Fortunate Son" and "Born in the USA" as the song most co-opted by people who had no idea what it meant.
@crimsonstrykr
Can i come to the us then, i really wanna and my country is really bad
@dodge33w
@@crimsonstrykr some wouldn't welcome you but most would this land is still the melting pot
@thomasbuchovecky2205
Where is this list?
@nickcirillo6191
Declan Conroy
Oh only you know..? GTFOH
@nickcirillo6191
Logan Lathrop yeah only you the king of the commies know..?GTFOH
Libertarian’s know..
@emwithyt9429
I remember hating this song because I was native then I realized the true meaning. This song is great and makes you realize how beautiful life truly is.
@frederikhyrup2871
Im a native but of 2 worlds. I saw what you see. This world was made for you and me :). And a rock to a bear. I hope you understand.
@2emo2function
This song is about communism lol
@jessicagreen3963
This guys father was apart of a lynch mob....far from a unity song